EN

Synonyms for prior

  • adjective

Most common

earlier previous preceding antecedent

All synonyms

Adjective

1. Earlier — coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous

earlier, previous, preceding, antecedent, anterior formal, past, advance, preliminary, precedent, former, foregoing, old, fore, ex, olden, erstwhile, quondam formal, precursory, whilom, prevenient, hitherto dated

Antonyms

subsequent, following, posterior

All antonyms of prior →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Coming before in order or time; earlier, former, previous.

    I had no prior knowledge you were coming.

Related words

Word family
priorate priority prioracy prioress priorship priory
Phrases
prior to prior probability grand prior great prior prior claustral prior conventual

Choose the right word

or Prior?

Prior bears exclusive reference to time, and commonly where that which is first in time is first also in right; as, a prior demand.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • past Air quality has deteriorated these past few years.
  • previous This novel of his is inferior to the previous one.
  • earlier I've been coming to work one train earlier lately.
  • preceding This contract will nullify all preceding contracts.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
priorfalling
paststeady
previoussteady
earliersteady
precedingfalling

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

2 letters
ex1
3 letters
old1
4 letters
past1, fore1
5 letters
olden2
6 letters
former2, whilom
7 letters
earlier3, advance2, quondam
8 letters
previous3, anterior4, hitherto3
9 letters
precedent3, preceding3, foregoing3, erstwhile2
10 letters
antecedent4, precursory, prevenient
11 letters
preliminary5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (olden2 = 2 syllables).